A girls soccer team in Ohio raise money for relief with local RC

This is an [edited] email Tharanga got today:

"Greetings once again from the Rotary Club of Hilliard,Ohio,USA. This is to follow up on my last message to you. My daughter's soccer team, their parents, and the Rotary Club are sending you a check in the amount of US$ 840.00. The girls were pleased to hear that some of their money may go toward rebuilding and repairing schools in Sri Lanka.

I have also attached [a] photo of the girls that you may wish to share with your club. [It] is of the soccer team at our meeting. The adults in the back row are Coach Kathy Lindsey, District Gov. George Hale and President Tim Boysel.



Good Luck with with all of your relief efforts."

Marty Bretz; Past President, PHF
Rotary Club of Hilliard

Thank you to all of you from all of us.

We had CNO officials at our meeting today [revised]

We had two senior officials linked to the Centre for National Operations [CNO] at our meeting today [27 Jan]. The CNO is the organization “set up by the President of Sri Lanka for the purpose of setting up a centralized operation to manage the relief programmes launched by the Government of Sri Lanka for the victims of [the] Tsunami”. [CNO site].

According to these officials everything is “under control” except for few places in the east. They did not mention the north. They mentioned that in another 2 weeks the Government will “announce” its relocation plans and everyone will have to abide by the same [that includes us].

rest of the post deleted

Harsha de Silva

LankaFood donations comes to an end

We have now discontinued donations through LankaFood. We had a total of 363 orders amounting to USD 36,581. We thank all those who contributed. The food and medicines made a huge difference in the lives of the displaced survivors in the days soon after the disaster.

Special thanks to LankaFood for all their hard work on a voluntary basis. Please use their services!

100 mobile toilets for IDP camps

Post updated with picture

Toilet facilities have become a huge problem in the camps holding the tens of thousands of internally displaced persons [IDP].

Based on observation and several requests, we have decided to purchase and install 100 mobile toilet units in selected camps. Lanka Walltiles have agreed to supply these units at the best possible price; USD 65 per unit. As phase one, we have ordered 50 units. The first batch of 10 units are expected to be installed on 6 Februray in Matara . Thereafter we will install units in Pattuvil, Galle, Batticaloa and several other to be identified areas. Our local partners will be responsible for operation and maintanance.

Project team is Bari, Prabhu and Althaf.

Regency ACN LT project research update

President Mario and Rotarians Thilal, Prabhu and Gehan met with ACNielsen [ACN] MD Dwight Watson [himself a tsunami survivor], Crystal Nathan and Udayana Seneviratne on 26 January to finalize the way forward of the long-term project. Here is a progress report:

Objectives

• Understand the key problems/issues;
• Ellicit their current needs in the short term and long term;
  
• Assess the kind of relief activities/measures that are currently implemented;
• Evaluate their reaction to various project ideas;
  
• Model village
  
• Livelihoods project [within the model village] and
  
• Educational project [within the model village]
  

Discussion Guide

Everyone went through the discussion guide and it was agreed upon. Our Rotarians wanted the research team to probe a little more in terms of what the respondents expected from the project ideas so that they could customize the project thus making it more relevant. In order to do so, the ACN team requested the Rotarians to give some write ups for each of the project ideas. These would then serve as concept boards which could be checked out in the groups. The revised DG is attached in the Long-Term Project link. Please provide any feedback before the 5th of February.

Logistics

It was decided that the recruitment for these groups would take place at the refugee camps in that area. However a problem that remains is the identification of one village/area to make the research findings more purposeful and it was agreed by the rest of the team. We would now speak to the Batticaloa team and narrow it down to one village and a total of 4 groups will be conducted.

It was decided to have the groups scheduled during the 11^th – 13^th of February 2005. Since the rotary team is well versed with the terrain of the land, at least one of them would accompany the ACN team to Batticaloa for the groups. We offered to look after the transport and lodging of the moderator who would conduct these groups. It was also agreed that the Rotary centre in Batticaloa would serve as the venue for these groups

100 mobile toilets for IDPs

Toilet facilities have become a huge problem in the camps holding the tens of thousands of internally displaced persons [IDP].

Based on observation and several requests, we have decided to purchase and install 100 mobile toilet units in selected camps. Lanka Walltiles have agreed to supply these units at the best possible price; USD 65 per unit. As phase one, we have ordered 50 units. The first batch of 10 units are expected to be installed on 6 Februray in Matara . Thereafter we will install units in Pattuvil, Galle, Batticaloa and several other to be identified areas. Our local partners will be responsible for operation and maintanance.

Project team is Bari, Prabhu and Althaf.

Long term project sub-committees

Our long term projects committee has been broken up in to three sub committees. Below are the committees and our members responsible for the same:

1. Housing: Thilal
2. Schools: Chamila
3. Livelihood: Shantha

The Chairperson of each sub committee is also in the main Relief Committee which is chaired by President Mario. Right now each sub-comm is evaluating options and would feed the same in to the reseach that is being undertaken by ACN. This way we expect to have a through idea of the best possible structure for a "people centred" long term project. President Mario said "Our ultimate aim is to raise the quality of life of the people we help to a level higher than they had prior to Tsunami."

Regency ACN research next week

ACNielsen Lanka has accepted our request to undertake the research study in a selected area in the east. They will organize and hold a series of focus group discussions among various target groups, analyse the data and make a presentation to us. We will link the report for all to see. Thank you ACN. We are now planning the logistics with the help of the Rotary Club of Batticaloa.

The study is to be conducted next week after we agree on the methodology and discussion guidelines. Our problem is with getting suitable land; the bureaucracy always moves slower than us. President Mario and Prabhu are working on it.

Please feel free to email us any suggestions you may have to include in the research to Rotary Regency.

ACNielsen Lanka to help Regency plan long-term project

We are in discussion with AC Nielsen Lanka to undertake a thorough needs-assessment study in the short listed areas in the east to make sure our planned long-term village reconstruction project is a success.

We have requested ACN Lanka to conduct a series of focus group studies which will become our planning base. We requested them to find out as much as possible, the “real” requirements of these devastated people and their expectations. We wanted the ACN Lanka professionals to consider the various relationships that exist in the community and how they interact; what about the surviving children and the women… what are the special needs etc. Another request was to find out how best we could help them with rebuilding their livelihoods. This way, we will have a realistic and accurate assessment of the people we all want to help. We can then build on this base and plan our project. Our thanks to Crystal and her enthusiastic team at ACN Lanka; hope we can have a go ahead soon!

We shall soon post the proposed intermediate and long term plans of Regency to rehabilitate and get these people back on their feet.

Read Write Sri Lanka donations now tax deductible in the US

The Read Write Sri Lanka program implemented jointly by a group led by Imalka Senadhira in the Bethesda, MD area and of the Rotary Club of Rotary Regency has now obtained tax deductible status though the good offices of Mr Nihal Gunewardene, president of the Sri Lanka Association of Greater Washington. Thank you.

U.S. residents can make tax deductible contributions to Rotary Regency - Read Write Sri Lanka initiative through the Sri Lanka Association of Greater Washington, a non-profit organization registered with the Internal Revenue Service. Please refer to www.slawdc.com

Please send an e-mail confirming donations to imalka2003@yahoo.com and nihalg@istiinc.com, along with any preference for how the funds should be spent, and your full name and address. This will enable us to track of your donations and keep you informed about our progress and how the money is being spent.

Contributions can be made in any of the following ways:

By cheque: Please make cheques out to SLAGW, with “Rotary Regency - Read Write Sri Lanka” in the memo line. Mail cheques to SLAGW, 1820 North Fort Myer Drive, Suite 600, Arlington, VA 22209.

By bank transfer: Please send bank transfers to account of SLAGW, Chevy Chase Bank, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. Routing Number 255 071 981, Account number 544 374 711. Please specify that the funds are intended for “Rotary Regency - Read Write Sri Lanka”.

By credit card: A credit card portal will soon be inaugurated at www.slawdc.com on January 19, 2005. Please choose the “Rotary Regency – Read Write Sri Lanka” option.

In Kind: Please contact Imalka Senadhira in the U.S. on +301-656-6919 or imalka2003@yahoo.com to discuss details and logistics of your contribution.

Direct Donations: If you want to send to Sri Lanka immediately and tax deduction is not important, you may donate through the different payment options via Rotary Regency http://www.reliefforsrilanka.blogspot.com. Please specify that the funds are intended for “Rotary Regency - Read Write Sri Lanka”.

Read Write Sri Lanka Phase 2

Read Wrire Sri Lanka [RW SL] is now moving on the second phase of the initiative after the completetion of the highly successful first phase. The phase 2 goal is to raise 5,000 backpacks by September 2005. RW SL hopes to ship a container in early June, as the first stage of supplies collected.

Each child could prepare a backpack containing school supplies appropriate for him or her to last a child for as long as you wish – six months, one year. You can put what you use in school. The backpack may include school supplies such as pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, scissors, bound notebooks [loose paper is not used in Sri Lanka]. In addition, little toys, toiletries, hair ornaments for girls, socks and shoes [Sri Lankan schools generally use all white or black shoes/sneakers and white socks], shoes/sandals for out of school wear also would be useful to be included in the backpack gift.

RW SL would like to encourage partnerships with schools/classes for this initiative. Individual contributions are most welcome too. The 5000 backpacks will be distributed to children to have new school supplies and a backpack for the new school term. Rotary Regency will directly hand over these backpacks to the most needy children of the South, East, and north of the country. At present, Rotary Regency is working with the Ministry of Education of Sri Lanka and the Center for National Operations to identify the most needy children and schools. As soon as the formalities are sorted out, we will upload the list of schools on the rotary regency supported weblog www.reliefforsrilanka.blogspot.com.

If anyone is interested in participating in this initiative, please contact Imalka Senadhira in the U.S. on +301-656-6919 or imalka2003@yahoo.com to discuss logistics and other formalities.

Note by Harsha: Imalka had sent me a detailed document which I am unable to load on the blog, so please email her or Chamila at chamila@blissforme.com for same.

Report from Matara

This is a report from Sagala Ratnayake [once a Regency rotarian] who is also a member of parliament from that district. His team is one of the many we have been helping besides our focus on Batticaloa. [see previous posts]

He says Matara district currently has 37 operational camps. However he adds that there are more locations since the camps are sometimes unable to cope with housing the number of families registered with these camps.

His team has been working in the Weligama, Matara, Welipitiya, Devinuvara and Dickwella divisions since the 1^st of January providing food parcels utilizing dry rations provided by you through us. Sagala says that program will continue on a weekly basis until the need is no longer there. He says "We have also helped them with kerosene cookers, cooking utensils, mattresses, pillows, clothes and toys". [Picture below shows Sagala distributng relief at one of the many make-shift distribution points.]

Laki, a team member says that some camps where they cooked meals for the displaced “there were tears in their eyes, as they had not had a home cooked meal since the day of the tragedy.” She added “They said that they appreciated the fact that we took time to come and speak with them and how grateful they were for the effort by organizations like Rotary providing them help”.

We thank Sagala and the teams for helping us distribute the food and other immediate needs among the people in Matara.

Report from Pottuvil and Arugam Bay

Interview with Rotarian Shanta who led our mission to the east coast with Rotarian Nalin [RC of Colombo] over the wkend. They visited Arugam Bay, Potuvil, Komari, Sangamankanda, Tirukkovil, Akkaraipattu and Ampara. They could not reach Kalmunai as the bridge in Oluvil [12 kms southof Kalmunai] was still under repair. This is what he had to say:

"The main objective of the mission was to asses firsthand the ground situation in the east coast for our club to plan out mid term and long term projects. We also delivered tents, water purifying filters, medicines, dry rations, fresh water, baby feeding bottles, clothes and toys. The picture shows Shanta [in blue shirt] helping distribute toys at a refugee camp.



He says "We felt there is enough of food, dry rations, clothes for the people in these areas. There is excess and some people are even trying to selling these items." But Shanta said the refugee camps need tents, flash lights, lanterns, blankets and cooking utensils.

"The people need to restart there livelyhoods butdo not have the tools required to do so. The fishermen need new boats or get their damaged boats repaired. They need nets. The farmers need sickles and mamoties. We need to supply these items soon as they are nowgetting lazy and frustrated" he asid. He also thought setting up a boat repair shops and training some people could be a project which we could tie up with foreignclubs.

Pledges pass USD 300,000

Total pledges [besides LankaFood contributions and the in-kind contributions] have now crossed USD 300,000.

Total pledges: USD 303,090

Pledges realized: USD 172,146
[Rotarians: USD 74,951]
[Non Rotarians: USD 97,195]

Thank you to every one. Contributors shall be updated asap.

Shantha and team back from Pottuvil

Shantha and the team is back from a very successful trip to Pottuvil and Arugam Bay. I will post the story as soon as we receive the pictures.

Read Write first initiative completed

We have received the following update from Imalka Senadhira from Bethesday, Maryland who with the help of Sarasali Fonseka in Atlanta, Georgia initiated the Read-Write project to help restart the lives of students of 10 damaged schools. Thank you. We look forward to working with you in taking the initiative forward.

"The Read Write Sri Lanka (RW SL) initiative in the U.S. shipped 75 boxes of children’s clothes, shoes, linen, toiletries, toys, dry rations, etc. to Sri Lanka on January 14, 2005. This package is expected to reach Sri Lanka mid February. Rotary regency will collect this package and distribute them to children in selected schools in the north, south and east.

RW SL team says a big thank you to people who contributed in kind and all who assisted in sorting and boxing them. In particular Paul and Evette Lindler, Christopher Ingraham, Chetana Senadhira for loading the 75 boxes to the truck. Special thanks to Marc Lande and Stephen Fernando for driving the truck to New Jersey and Sunil Wijehewavitharana of Colombo Express Inc., the freight forwarder for shipping for free.

Each box had pictures drawn with encouraging messages from the American and Sri Lankan children including many brownies and girl scouts living in Maryland area. Photo below shows kids drawing these pictures. [More pictures will be posted in the gallery].

Thank you friends, children and Volunteers for giving up your weekend to make a connection to the Tsunami affected children in Sri Lanka. RW SL is not only about giving, but the main idea is the connection - to keep our world a small place."

Update from Joe, Caroline and Drake

We just spoke to Caroline Upton who arrived along with Joe Dacanay and Drake Mosier from Napa Valley in California from connections made through our blog [we ran a story "welcome amarican volunteers" on 11 january]. This is an update from the mobile phone interview with her on the amazing work they are doing.

Joe, Caroline and Drake are in place called Kalmunai, in the far eastern part of Sri Lanka. This area was very very badly damaged and over 10,000 people lost their lives in the district. Caroline told us that they are running back-to-back medical camps in the Wesley College [refugee] camp in Kalmunai. They are also working with the people who lost their homes to clear debris and figuring out ways to dipose of the same. She also said they were linking up with US medical team to expand the health-realted work. She said they were very happy with the progress and felt comfortable with working with the area people.

Yesterday they had visisted Pottuvil and Ulle, two more badly affected areas in tractors [as roads are still dameged] and distributed backpacks and toys and even some books with folks from the Rotary Club of Kandy.

Rotarians around the world I am sure are proud of you all and the people in the area are so thankful. Way to go!

Blog is being reformatted

Please note that the blog is currently being restructured. We have moved most of the photos to the 'Relief Photo Gallery' link from the main page and refiled in to three groups which you will see on the left column. We plan to obtain a larger flickr account to display all the photos with descriptions. Thank you Jeremy Gantz for your hard work and dedication. [original post changed by harsha de silva]

Thank you French Riviera Clubs and the Inner Wheel Club

Dear Mrs Taranga
At a recent meeting, the Nice “French Riviera” ROTARY Clubs together with the INNER WHEEL Club Nice voted to remit you the sum of Euro 18,000 equal to US$23,500 so that you may purchase primary essential items for your people in distress. We are all very struck by the drama that you have been through together with so many people in south east Asia.

Please accept our expressions of compassion and know that our Rotary vocation to serve takes on a true meaning in helping you.

The bank transaction will take place on Friday January 14 through your account with the HSBC. Please be so kind as to acknowledge receipt and inform us how the sum is put to use.

P.ROBERT, Président 2004/2005
Rprésentant :ROTARY NICE MASSENA, ROTARY NICE, ROTARY NICE COMTE,INNER WHEEL NICE

Volunteers assisting Regency

Many volunteers from overseas have come to assist us with the relief efforts. The newest additions to our group of volunteers are:
Angelo Embuldeiya, a Sri Lankan IT student in Bahrain who wrote -" ..... I can volunteer at any of your aid agencies in Sri Lanka with regard to the skills I've mentioned above. I would appreciate you placing me as a volunteer for your organization in Sri Lanka ASAP"

Angelita Li - from Hong Kong, who wrote into say -
"..... as I mentioned via our previous phone conversation, I am
willing to do any kind of work to help and I am physically and mentally prepared. I look forward to meeting you and help rebuilding Sri Lanka as much as i can, thank you very much for letting me in!"

Jill Shirey, American Fulbright Scholar from California who is attached to the University of Peradiniya - Sri Lanka for her research, has been an enormous help to us. She will be dedicating her valuable study time to help us through.